Stockings

ABSTRACT

In a full length therapeutic stocking of the type having a boot portion including elastomeric yarn, waist support means spaced above the boot portion, and a hip panel extending between the boot portion and the waist support means, that improvement including a pair of stocking supports extending between and attached to the waist support means and the boot portion, each support comprising a strip of fabric extending from a respective point at the waist support means to a respective point at the upper edge of the boot portion, and each of the respective points of one of the supports being spaced circumferentially of the stocking from the corresponding respective point of the other of the supports.

This invention is related to therapeutic stockings and, moreparticularly, to so-called full leg length therapeutic stockings.

Therapeutic stockings including elastomeric-containing yarns which exerta compressive pressure on the covered portion of the leg are well-known,and have been constructed in a variety of lengths and styles. The degreeof compression exerted similarly has been varied over a relatively largerange. In general, however, it is understood that the pressure profileof a properly fitted stocking should gradually decrease from thepatient's ankles to the upper thighs.

Three principal types of such therapeutic stockings are the so-calledknee length stockings, thigh length stockings, and full length or pantystyle stockings. A typical thigh length stocking is shown in U.S. Pat.No. 3,728,875, issued to The Kendall Company as the assignee of Hartiganet al. on Apr. 24, 1973. A typical full length stocking, of a type soldby The Kendall Company, assignee of the present application, isdisclosed in pending application Ser. No. 593,159 entitled "TherapeuticStocking", filed July 3, 1975 in the names of Roger T. Swallow and JohnE. Pendergrass and assigned to The Kendall Company now U.S. Pat. No.4,027,667, issued June 7, 1977. Both said patent and said applicationare hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Knee and thigh length stockings are typically held in place on thewearer by an at least partially leg-encircling garter band of elasticmaterial, typically including an inner surface of a non-slip materialsuch as urethane elastomer. One problem with such stockings is that theelastic band is often quite stiff and must bear against the leg withsome pressure if it is satisfactorily to hold the stocking in place.This pressure, especially in some thigh length stockings, mayundesirably constrict the plexus deep and superficial blood vessels. Asecond drawback to knee and thigh length stockings is that it isdifficult to keep them in place on an active or ambulatory patient.Additionally, some thigh length stockings may roll, causing undesirablerestriction and reducing protection of the leg.

Full length stockings avoid some of these problems. Rather than using aleg-encircling garter, full length stockings are supported by a pair ofpanels, each extending from the upper thigh over the outer hip to awaist band. This manner of support greatly reduces slippage, and reducesalso many of the problems of undesirable pressure and constriction.

There are, however, problems that remain. Some patients, particularlythose with large flaccid inner thighs, find that the side hip panelspull the edge of the stocking against the skin in the inside of thethigh, causing irritation, that the inner edge is pulled uncomfortablyup into the groin, and that the inner edge rolls thereby acerbating theirritation and discomfort.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providean improved system for supporting a full length stocking that reducesirritation, discomfort and edge rolling without adversely affecting thepressure profile. Other objects include providing such a support systemwhich makes possible better control of the stocking's pressure profileon the upper leg.

The invention features, in a full length therapeutic stocking of thetype having a boot portion including elastomeric yarn, waist supportmeans spaced above the boot portion, and a hip panel extending betweenthe boot portion and the waist support means, that improvement includinga pair of stocking supports extending between and attached to the waistsupport means and the boot portion, each support comprising a strip offabric extending from a respective point at the waist support means to arespective point at the upper edge of the boot portion, and each of therespective points of one of the supports being spaced circumferentiallyof the stocking from the corresponding respective point of the other ofthe supports. In preferred embodiments in which each support is aninelastic strip overlying and stitched to a respective inner edge of thehip panel, the distance between the respective points at the top edge ofthe boot portion is in the range of 20 to 40 percent of the totalcircumference of the top edge. In other embodiments, an insert ofcircumferentially elastic material, preferably doubled with the foldline at the top edge, is provided intermediate the respective points atthe top edge of the boot portion and extending downwardly from the topedge.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the followingdetailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken togetherwith the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stocking embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of portions of the stocking of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of portions of a second embodiment of theinvention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, there is shown a therapeutic stockinggenerally designated 20 having a boot portion 22, a waist support means24, and a hip panel 26 extending between the waist support means 24 andthe boot portion 22. The boot portion 22 exerts a compressive pressureagainst the patient's leg to increase the velocity of blood flow in theleg, and reduces incidence of thromboembolism in the patient. In apreferred form, the pressure profile defined by the stocking graduallydecreases from the patient's ankle to the upper thigh althoughcompressive pressure may be reduced somewhat in the area of the knee.The stocking boot portion 22 has an upper thigh panel 28 for exerting apredetermined compressive pressure against the upper thigh of thepatient's leg. The stocking 20 also has a run resistant section or area29 which preferably extends circumferentially around the stocking and islocated intermediate the upper thigh panel 28 and hip panel 26.

The support means 24 has an elastic band 30 secured by suitable means,such as an overedge stitch, to the upper end of the hip panel 26. Asshown, the band 30 is arranged to extend from the front around the hipto the back of the patient. The back end 32 of the band 30 is releasablyattached to one end 34 of an elastic connecting band 36, which is inturn connected to the back of the other stocking (not shown) worn by thepatient, by a pair of male and female snap fasteners 37 and 38,respectively. The front end 44 of band 30 is attached to an elastic orinelastic front band 40, as desired, which may have a smaller width thanthe side band 30. The opposed ends of the front band 40 are slidablyreceived in a pair of fastening elements 42 to permit adjustment of theband 40, and are releasably attached by the fastening elements 42 to thefront end 44 to stockings worn by the patient by male and female snapfasteners 46 and 48.

The foot portion 50 of stocking 20 has an edging 52, such as welt, whichdefines a toe inspection opening 54 which overlies the toes when thestocking is worn. Accordingly, an outer toe portion of the stocking maybe pulled over the toes to inspect the toes through the opening 54without removal of the stocking from the patient.

Referring to FIG. 1, the stocking 20 may be formed as follows. The lowerboot portion 58 is made of a circumferentially elastic fabric having alimited vertical stretch, and has a calf panel 60, and a knee panel 62which extends between the calf panel 60 and the upper thigh panel 28,with the calf panel 60 exerting a greater compressive pressure againstthe wearer's leg than the knee panel 62. A lower thigh panel may beincluded between the knee panel and the upper thigh panel, if desired.The panel 62, as well as the panel 60, are of alternating courses ofjersey knit stitches of non-elastomeric yarns of stretch nylon. Theupper thigh panel 28 preferably has contiguous courses of jersey knitstitches of non-elastomeric yarns. A covered elastomeric yarn is inlaidinto the courses as desired.

The hip panel 26 is preferably made of a two-way stretch fabric, andhave alternating courses of jersey knit stitches of a coveredelastomeric yarn. The section 29 of run resistant fabric has courses ofstitches of a covered elastomeric yarn. Alternate rounds of the yarnshave jersey knit stitches, and alternate rounds are separated bynon-elastomeric yarns in different courses, with the section 29 having atwo-way stretch.

The particular yarns, knit stitches and the like employed in bootportion 22 and hip panel 26 may be varied, as known to those in thefield. The preferable construction is discussed in some detail in saidapplication Ser. No. 593,159, already incorporated by reference.

After the stocking blanks have been knitted and boarded, the blanks arecut, according to the present invention, to define the front and backinner side edges 70, 72, respectively of the hip panel 26, and theintermediate top edge 78 of run resistant section 29. Rear inner sideedge 72 extends from the upper edge of the hip panel adjacent end 32 ofwaistband 30 to a point A on top edge 78 at the rear portion of runresistant section 29; front inner side edge 72 from adjacent end 44 ofwaistband 30 to a point B on top edge 78 at the front of run resistantsection 29. The distance (circumferentially of run resistant section 29in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2) from point B to point A isin the range of 20% to 40%, preferably about one-third, of the totalcircumference of run resistant section 29; and the points are spacedequidistantly from the middle of hip panel 26. Top edge 78 is sewn orstitched as required to prevent unraveling.

An inelastic edging 74 is attached along each of the inner side edges70, 72 of the hip panels 26 to provide support for stocking 20,particularly in the area between points A and B which is not directlysupported by hip panel 26. Edging 74 also provides a comfortable innerside edge of the hip panel, prevents elastomers in the hip panel frompulling out of the edging 74, and minimizes the formation of runs in thehip panel. The edging 74 may be of any suitable type, such as a Mauserstitch or edging, known to the art as stitch type 607, as defined byFederal Standard No. 751a, Jan. 25, 1965, entitled "Stitches, Seams, andStitching". The hip panel 26 is pre-stretched along its inner side edges70, 72 before the edging 74 is formed along the side edges. After theformation of the edging 74 on the pre-stretched fabric, the sides of thehip panel 26 are released and the edgings from a puckered configurationof the hip panel along the edgings, and a slightly arcuate inner edge ofthe hip panel. Although the edging 74 itself is inelastic and is notpermitted to expand, the side margins 76 of the hip panel 26 along theedging 74 is permitted to expand somewhat during use of the stocking,since the edging 74 was attached with the side margins of the hip panelbeing pre-stretched.

When the stocking 20 is placed on a patient, the lower boot portion 58and hip panel 26 are adjusted to position points A and B on the insideof the patient's upper leg, on opposite sides of the middle of thegroin. In this position, the strips of edging 74 support the stocking inplace without pulling the stocking edge between points A and Buncomfortably into the groin or adversely affecting the desired pressureprofile.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which illustrates a stocking 20'embodying the invention and especially suitable for use on patients withlarge upper thighs. Most portions of stocking 20' are substantiallyidentical to corresponding portions of previously described stocking 20,and are identified by the same reference numerals as those used in theforegoing description of stocking 20, with a differentiating prime (')added. As shown, an insert 100 in the form of a rounded "V" has beeninserted in upper thigh panel 28' between points A' and B'. The insert100 is symmetrical about a line midway between points A and B, the top102 of the insert 100 forms a continuous line with the upper edge of runresistant section 29', and the edges of insert 100 are attached to theupper thigh portion 28' by overedge stitching 104.

In the FIG. 3 embodiment, stocking 20' was initially knitted, boarded,and cut with run resistant section 29' forming a continuous loop andpoints A' and B' coincident. The run resistant section 29' and upperthigh portion were then slit to provide the space for insert 100. Asshown, the top 102 of insert 100 has a length equal to about 30% that ofrun resistant section 29. Thus, as will be seen from comparison of FIGS.2 and 3, the insert 100 flares outwardly as compared to thecorresponding portion of stocking 20, and stocking 20' provides asuperior fit on patients with large or flaccid upper, especially inner,thighs.

Preferably, insert 100 is of doubled circumferentially elastic fabrichaving a limited vertical stretch. The fold line defines the top 102 ofthe insert and provides a smooth non-irritating, non-rolling edge. Thefabric has alternating courses of jersey knit stitches ofnon-elastomeric yarns of stretch nylon, and a covered elastomeric yarnis inlaid into every other course of the jersey stitches.

Other embodiments will be within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a full length therapeutic stocking of the typeincluding a boot portion including elastomeric yarn, waist support meansspaced above the boot portion, and a hip panel extending between theboot portion and the waist support means, that improvement including apair of stocking supports extending between and attached to said waistsupport means and said boot portion, each of said supports comprising astrip of fabric extending from a respective point at said waist supportmeans to and terminating at a respective point at the upper edge of saidboot portion, and each of said respective points of one of said supportsbeing spaced circumferentially of said stocking from the correspondingrespective point of the other of the supports.
 2. The stocking of claim1 wherein the distance between said points at said upper edge of saidboot portion is in the range of 20% to 40% the circumference of theupper edge of said boot portion.
 3. The stocking of claim 1 wherein saidboot portion includes an insert of circumferentially elastic fabricextending downwardly from said upper edge of said boot portion andpositioned intermediate said respective points at said upper edge. 4.The stocking of claim 3 wherein said insert is of double fabric and thefold line thereof defines a portion of said upper edge of said bootportion.
 5. The stocking of claim 3 wherein said insert is in thegeneral shape of a rounded "V" and a portion of said boot portion isslit to permit incorporation of said insert.
 6. The stocking of claim 1wherein said points are equidistant from the center of said hip panel.7. In a full length therapeutic stocking of the type including a bootportion including elastomeric yarn, waist support means spaced above theboot portion, and a hip panel extending between the boot portion and thewaist support means, that improvement wherein said hip panel defines apair of inner edges each extending from a respective point at said waistsupport means to and terminating at a respective point at the upper edgeof said boot portion, an inelastic edging is stitched to and overlieseach of said inner edges, and each of said respective points of one ofsaid edges being spaced circumferentially of said stocking from thecorresponding respective point of the other of said edges.
 8. Thestocking of claim 7 wherein the distance between said points at theupper edge of said boot portion is in the range of 20% to 40% of thecircumference of the upper edge of said boot portion.
 9. The stocking ofclaim 7 wherein said boot portion includes an insert ofcircumferentially elastic fabric extending downwardly in the generalshape of a rounded "V" from the upper edge of said boot portion andpositioned intermediate said respective points at said upper edge. 10.In a full length therapeutic stocking of the type including a bootportion including elastomeric yarn, waist support means spaced above theboot portion, and a hip panel extending between the boot portion and thewaist support means, that improvement including a pair of stockingsupports extending between and attached to said waist support means andsaid boot portion, each of said supports comprising an inelastic edgingstitched to and overlying a respective inner edge of said hip panel andextending from a respective point at said waist support means to arespective point at the upper edge of said boot portion, and each ofsaid respective points of one of said supports being spacedcircumferentially of said stocking from the corresponding respectivepoint of the other of the supports.